The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-10
CHANG YEN HOON.

ne always DeauJllul w est Enu is
daily getting livelier, and stroll
through that section is almost a
dream of delight Up near the Chi
nese Legation it is already charming
Walking through Dupont circle the
other day [ saw little picture that
could hardly be duplicated outside
OF the Celestial Empire. In one of
the mere sequester d hooks of the
park were about dozen of the Chi
nese attaches in pig tails and petit
coats, Some Of them were big and
fat, with large, round, moonlike faces
and lounged lazily about on the
benches, while others, lean and MIN
BILE, danced and frolicked and skipped
about like merry little girls at play,
their ratlike voices rising and falling
in shrill cadences. 1t is sight ia
miliar to the residents of the neigh
borhood. The park is the Chinese
play ground, and in the summer you
are almost sure to find some of them
there.
Over across the way, just fronting
the circle, is the legation building,
more generally known as Castle
Stewart. 1t is grim old structure
which locks somewhat like church,
a little like a castle with its round
tower and colored windows, and less
like a private residence than any
thing else. Yet this latter was the
purpose for which it was built. 1t
was erected by Senator Stewart, of
Nevada, when he served that State
in the Senate several years ago. He
was at that time much richer than
now, but | hear that he has regained
much Of his lost fortunes, and now
that he has returned to the Senate
would not be surprised if he would
buy back his old home. 1t would
be well for it if some progressive
American would get possession, for
the building is in wre.ched repair,
and looks as if it were twice as old as
it really is. The British Legation
was built about the same
time, and looks just as fresh and
new today as on the day it was fin
ished. At one time these two build
ings stood almost alone in a desolate
waste of swamp and stubble. Now
they stand in the midst of the most
fashionable section of the capital.
But though the exterior of the
house is hardly as magnificent as of
old, you forget all about it when
once you enter. 1t is by far the
most unique interior in Washington,
and the Chinamaniac might spend
days in studying aud feasting his
eyes On tho beautiful display that
ornament the rooms Of the spacious
mansion To the right of the hall
way as you enter the front door are
the parlors and reception rooms.
Pushing back the heavy and beauti-
fully embroidered portieres you pass
into the parlor 1t is the most mag
nificant apartment in the house.
The walls are hung with Chinese
drapery of peculiar texture, en-
broideried with maxims taken from
the works of Coniucius, and all about
set massive Oriental vases of unique
design. There are screens and rugs
in gold and blue and scarlet, and a
collection of bric-a- brac that could |
scarcely be equaled in America.
You can pass from the parlors into |
the library by going through a mar
row little hall. | have been in many |
libraries in my life, but | can say |
that never have / entered one exactly |
like this. The room might almost |
almost be described as an octagon, it
has so many little hooks and Gran
MES. There are odd looking book |
cases filled with rare and valuable
manuscripts, and a number of cabi-
nets Of beautiful workmanship in
which are richly bound editions of |
the Chinese classics. This room is
the Minister'S private Office and
strangers rarely have chance to en-
ter it. Passing still further toward |
the back OF the mansion we come to
the ballroom, perhaps the largest and
most elegant in the city, and the
scene of some Of the most brilliant
entertainments ever given in Wash
ington. Though the Minister is not |
a frequent entertainer himself, he is
always ready to put his house at the
disposal of the society ladies of |
Washington. Every season, how
ever, he gives a grand ball, for which
over 1000 invitations are issued. |
The last occasion Of this kind is still |
fresh in the public mind on account of |
the behavior of the guests. There is
another apartment well worth lin
gering in. This is the smoking room
that heaven of the Celestial Of |
every degree. 1t is luxuriOusly fur
nished with divans, and mats, and